Jaelan Phillips’ first game as an Eagle went about as well as anyone could have hoped.
Just a week after getting traded to the Eagles, Phillips played 53 snaps in a tight 10-7 win over the Packers. He had 7 pressures, 6 tackles, 2 QB hits, a TFL and was given a game ball from head coach Nick Sirianni.
Now he gets to play his first home game with his new team.
“I’m super excited,” Phillips said about Sunday Night Football against the Lions at the Linc. “I played here one time back in ’23 and it was a great environment. But being here as the home team is going to be even cooler.”
Phillips, 26, is already really enjoying his time in Philadelphia and was able to quickly recall Vic Fangio’s defense. Phillips played under Fangio in Miami in 2023 but said he had forgotten most of the defense. Now, it’s all coming back to him.
He has really fit well into the locker room as well.
“It’s been great,” Phillips said on Thursday. “Obviously, what a way to come out on Monday. Super cool environment. It was awesome to play with the team. I already feel so close to the guys. I feel like I’ve been here a while already. So that’s a credit to them for welcoming me with open arms. We got great guys like Jordan (Davis) next to me.”
The jovial Davis was listening in on the interview session and creeping into Phillips’ frame of vision.
“We love you, man,” Davis interjected.
“It was a great environment,” Phillips continued. “Super fun. I’m definitely loving the city so far.”
The Eagles traded away a 2026 third-round pick to acquire Phillips from the Dolphins. That might seem pricey for a player who is on an expiring contract but Phillips is already helping to shore up a position of need.
Phillips things his Eagles debut was one of his best games this season.
“I think that this system kind of allows me to be a little more free and so it was kind of reminiscent, it reminded me of 2023 when I was playing in Vic’s system again,” he said. “Just in terms of the stats, the production, things like that. I think it was probably my best game of the year so far but definitely not the best that I’ve got. Still working on things to improve. Excited to keep getting better.”
Phillips played 53 snaps on Monday night and 52 of them came on the left side of the line, which is also where he played most of his snaps in Miami.
Entering this game, that means a matchup with All-Pro Penei Sewell.
“He’s a beast,” Phillips said. “It’s definitely going to be a good matchup just in terms of he’s a great athlete, super strong, super powerful. Very, very skilled run technician, great in his pass sets. Really nothing but kudos and compliments to that guy. It’s going to be a fun one.”
Because of the timing of the trade, Phillips might not get a bye week this season. He played the first nine games of the season with Miami and came to Philadelphia after the Eagles’ bye week with nine games left in the season.
The only other players in recent history to play 18 regular season games in a season were Mike Williams in 2024 and Leonard Williams in 2023 after they were each traded in those respective seasons.
“That’s OK,” Phillips said. “We’ll just try to go out there and get that first-week playoff bye.”
A win against the Lions would really help that cause.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
